Ebonyi road reconstructed, 22 years after

In much disrepair, having been built 22 years ago, the 1.7km Uwana Road in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, is coming back to life. The state government is reconstructing the road built by the Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, Dr Akanu Ibiam.

The road leads to the palace of the late Ibiam who, until his death in 1995, was the Ezeogo of the Unwana Kingdom.

The road was left unattended since his demise.

It was therefore not surprising that the people of the area came out en masse to witness the flag-off performed by the state governor David Umahi through the Ebonyi Roads Maintain Agency (EBROMA).

The women and youths danced and rejoiced with the chairman of the council and Umahi’s Senior Special Assistant on Roads Maintenance, Ali Odefa who led his Ebroma team to the event.

Mr Odefa, said the reconstruction would last for a maximum of six weeks, adding that the project costs N100m

He said the present government was committed to bringing needed development to Unwana, the country home of late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, adding that the late statesman meant a lot to Ebonyi State and Nigeria in general.

Umahi promised that by the time the road would be fully reconstructed, street light would also be extended to it to enhance business and night life in the area.

He explained that the road would be constructed on concrete pavement such that the quality would last for more than one hundred years before requiring any maintenance.

He noted that the state of the road was very bad and unbefitting as a road that leads to Akanu Ibaim compound, hence, the reconstruction.

He said, “It is a rigid concrete road with about 10.3 meter drain to drain. So, it is a good road and upon completion, it should have a life span of about a hundred years. None of those living today is going to see it collapse,” he said.

The governor further said the borehole which was sunk along the road will be donated to the community on completion of the road construction by Ebroma.

Speaking, Uchenna Ibiam, the Coordinator of Ubeyi Development Centre, thanked the governor for keeping his promises to the people of Unwana.

Ibiam said in the past, people came and took their votes and ran away but when Umahi came, he said he was going to transform Unwana and he had kept to the promise.

He assured the governor that the people of Unwana would reciprocate by fully supporting his reelection come 2019.

He urged the people to ensure they obtain their voters card to be able to vote for the Governor.

Also speaking, Princess Allu Ibiam, the regent of Unwana community and first daughter of late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, said she was impressed by the developmental strides of the governor as well as the manner Umahi was carrying Unwana community along.

Others who spoke including the council chairman of Afikpo North LGA, Hon. Oko Enyim; Lecturer with Ebonyi state University Abakalikk, Prof. Egwu U. Egwu among others, praised Governor Umahi for bringing development to Unwana community.

The elated people of Unwana community came out in their large number to witness the flag off of the road.